Dominik Albinski

Polish Modernist Charging Rhino Bronze Expressionist Rhinoceros Sculpture

Signed bronze from small edition of 8. plus 4 artists proofs Dominik Albiński (born 1975, South Africa) Dominic Albinski, was born in South Africa, in 1975. He started sculpting, at a young age, at the Art Classes of Mercia Desmond, in Johannesburg. From the start, his talent for capturing movement, and character in his human, and animal figures was remarkable. Dominic had a happy childhood, spending his time in the studio, where he studied art and anatomy, which was later to become one of the major themes of his sculptures. He also spent a lot of time on the South African coast; Durban, North Coast and Cape, Plettenburg Bay and in the bush Kruger Park, Okovango Swamps, Chobe and Pilansberg game reserves. He was a good student, but preferred sculpting in his studio, among his artworks, than studying. After finishing High School (St John’s College), he left for Paris, to start a life of independence, in the French capital, famous for artists like Rodin, Bugatti, Carpeaux, Daumier, Giacometti, and Picasso, who inspired him. He was excepted into the prestigious Institute of Political Science. However, his passion for sculpture, made him choose sculpture as a career. He started studying sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, and with the British Sculptor, James Butler in England. Here, he learnt observation and techniques that would stand him in good stead later, when he came back to France, as a Professor of Communication at the renowned Ecole Francaise D’Attache de Presse near the Champs Elysees. He had his first major exhibition at the Arnaud Gallery in Verneuil sur Avre in Normandy. A collector, found interest in his work, and created a vast collection of his bronzes, as well as promoting Dominic in various galleries in the region of Normandy, and Touraine, such as Galerie 21 and Club de Arche de Noe, in Tours and Galerie des Remparts, and Eclat de Verre, in Le Mans. He also exhibited in La Rochelle in the Galerie Hourdin, and Bordeaux at the Galerie des Remparts. During this period he studied Literature at the Sorbonne. In Paris, several galleries took Dominic’s work, including Galerie Arcima, on Rue St Jaques, Galerie Herouet, in the Marais, Galerie Etienne de Causans on rue de Seine, or Galerie Mouvances, on Place des Vosges. Dominic participated in a wildlife exhibition in Trocadero Center, and at the Hotel de Ville of Puteux. His sculpture Madness, was chosen to be exhibited as a finalist at the Brain-Up competition, in the Palais de Congres. This impressive sculpture, measuring 1m 60 is in the collection of the Hospital in Lille, and the Mandela Collection in Sandton South Africa, among other collections. In Poland, he had an exhibition in the Canadian Embassy Residence, in the South African Embassy, and in the French Embassy. His work “Man with Pipe” is in the collection of the Canadian Ambassador. His work “Portrait of Agnes” was acquired by the South African Ambassador who, opened Dominic’s exhibition in the Jagellonian University in Krakow, Holiday Inn, and in Galeria Mokotow, in Warsaw. He had an exhibiton in the Warsaw Financial Center on Emili Platter Street, and in the Sculpture Gallery on Jana Pawla street. Later, he exhibited in the Gallery of the Polish War Museum on Krakowskie Przedmiescie, on Nowy Swiat 44, in the Center of Promotion of Culture, Mazowieckie Center of Culture and in the Jan Nowak Jezorianski Center. His work was showcased in the Napiorkowska Gallery, Zapiecek Gallery on the square of the Old Town in Warsaw, Hunters Gallery, and Warsaw Art Gallery in the Marriot Hotel, and sold on various Auctions, such as Rempex, Agra Art, and Polswiss. Back in South Africa, Dominic had much success among his native art galleries, having his first major exhibition at the Mandela Square Gallery, in Sandton. Art Galleries, hearing of his exhibitions in France, took his work, such as the Cherie de Villiers Gallery, in the Mall, in Rosebank, and the Van den Berg Gallery, in Potchefstroom. Dominic also took his work to the USA, where he exhibited at the Modern Show in New York, and at the Dauphin Descours Gallery on Madison Avenue, and the Yew Tree House Antiques Gallery in New York, as well as the Geary Gallery, in Darion, and the Lions Gallery...

Sydney Kumalo. Features a bronze stylized female figural form sculpture fixed to a marble plinth and wood base. Bears signature on base. Measures 9 1/2" x 4 1/4". There is no edition number on the piece. Sydney Kumalo (1935 - 1988) was born in Sophiatown, Johannesburg, on 13 April 1935. His was one of the families who had to move out of the "white" city to the South Western Townships, or Soweto. Raised in Diepkloof and educated at Madibane High School, he took with him from old Sophiatown the curious and diverse heritage of its heyday. Art classes in the Catholic school, "Sof' town" blues and jazz, the vibrant street culture and growing defiance of its population of various races who were gradually forced out into separate race-group areas. So it was that these various aspects of his early life created for Kumalo a cultural mix of a Zulu family related to the traditional royal house; city schooling, nascent township music and lingo; growing urbanised political defiance and the deep-rooted Zulu pride and respect for the legends and ancient stories of a tribal people. This mix of old and new cultures was reinforced when he began his studies at the Polly Street Art Centre in 1953 where he became a member of Cecil Skotnes group of serious artists who were encouraged to acquire professional skills. Skotnes introduced a basic training programme with modelling as a component, which marked the introduction of sculpting (in brick-clay) at Polly Street. Kumalo was Skotnes’ assistant at Polly Street from 1957 to 1964, and having recognised his great talent as a sculptor, Skotnes encouraged him to become a professional artist. After Kumalo’s very successful assistance with a commission to decorate the St Peter Claver church at Seeisoville near Kroonstad, with painting designs, sculpture and relief panels in 1957, Skotnes arranged for Kumalo to continue his art training by working in Edoardo Villa ’s studio from 1958 to 1960. Working with Villa, he received professional guidance and began to familiarize himself with the technical aspects of sculpting and bronze casting. In 1960 he became an instructor at the Polly Street Art Centre. Kumalo started exhibiting his work with some of the leading commercial Johannesburg galleries in 1958, and had his first solo exhibition with the Egon Guenther Gallery in 1962. He was a leader of the generation who managed to leave behind the forms of African curios, reject the European-held paternalism which encouraged notions of "naive" and "tribal" African art, and yet still hold fast to the core of the old legends and spiritual values of his people. He introduced these subjects into his bronze sculptures and pastel drawings, evolving his own expressive, contemporary African "style". Together with Skotnes, Villa, Cecily Sash and Giuseppe Cattaneo, Kumalo became part of the Amadlozi group in 1963. This was a group of artists promoted by the African art collector and gallery director Egon Guenther, and characterised by their exploration of an African idiom in their art. Elza Miles writes that Cecil Skotnes’ friendship with Egon Guenther had a seminal influence on the aspirant artists of Polly Street: “Guenther broadened their experience by introducing them to German Expressionism as well as the sculptural traditions of West and Central Africa. He familiarised them with the work of Ernst Barlach, Käthe Kollwitz, Gustav Seitz, Willi Baumeister and Rudolf Sharf.” It is therefore not surprising that some of Kumalo’s sculptures show an affinity with Barlach’s powerful expressionist works. Guenther organised for the Amadlozi group to hold exhibitions around Italy, in Rome, Venice, Milan and Florence, in both 1963 and 1964. Kumalo’s career took off in the mid 1960s, with his regular participation in exhibitions in Johannesburg, London, New York and Europe. He also represented South Africa at the Venice Biennale in 1966, and in 1967 participated in the São Paulo Biennale. EJ De Jager (1992) describes Kumalo’s sculpture as retaining much of the “canon and formal aesthetic qualities of classical African sculpture. His work contains the same monumentality and simplicity of form.” His main medium for modelling was terra cotta, which was then cast in bronze, always paying careful attention to the finish of both the model as well as the final cast. He began casting the pieces he modelled in clay or plaster into bronze at the Renzo Vignali Artistic Foundry in Pretoria North. He worked throughout his life with its owners, the Gamberini family, and enjoyed learning the technical aspects of the casting process, refining his surfaces according to what he learned would produce the best results in metal. De Jager further writes that Kumalo’s distinctive texturing of the bronze or terra cotta is reminiscent of traditional carving techniques of various African cultures. “In many respects Kumalo thus innovated a genuine contemporary or modern indigenous South African sculpture”. Kumalo came to admire the works of the Cubists, and of British sculptors Henry Moore and Lynn Chadwick. He became noted for adapting shapes from them into his own figures. The success of his use of the then current monumental simplicity and purely aesthetic abstractions of natural forms has been emulated by many South African sculptors since the 1970s. He was in many ways the doyen of South African Black art. As such he was an important influence especially on younger African sculptors, by whom he is greatly revered. Through his teaching at Polly Street and at the Jubilee Centre, as well as through his personal example of integrity, dedication and ability, he inspired and guided students who in their own right became outstanding artists, for example, Ezrom Legae, Leonard Matsoso and Louis Maqhubela From 1969 onward, he allied himself with Linda Givon, founder of The Goodman Gallery in Johannesburg, where he exhibited regularly until his death in December 1988. Working with Givon also perpetuated his associations with his many friends of strong principles. Skotnes, Villa, Legae and later such peers from the Polly Street era as Leonard Matsoso, Durant Sihlali and David Koloane have all exhibited at The Goodman Gallery. Kumalo, Legae, and later Fikile (Magadlela) and Dumile (Feni) were among the leading exponents of a new Afrocentric art...

John William Mills (born 4 March 1933, London) is an English sculptor. He studied at Hammersmith School of Art, 1947–54, and at the Royal College of Art, 1956–60. He was a resident ...

Divyendu Anand - Soaring High Oxidised Bronze over Stone Composite Granite Base, Edition of 9 H 27 x W 13 x D 6 inches, 2025 Growing up with the thoughts of altruism, idealism and b...